Watch: Apple Watch SOS alert leads to rescue of skiers after 1,000-foot fall in Washington State
A video shared by the King County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit shows the rescue of backcountry skiers near Steven's Pass in Washington State after a 1,000-foot fall triggered an Apple Watch SOS alert.
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Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
How King County Sheriff's Office uses helicopter unit to save lives
The Brief The King County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit is prepared to conduct rescues in the mountainous regions of Western Washington, operating 24/7 to assist individuals in emergencies, such as hikers and skiers in distress. Despite using a 50-year-old helicopter and having only four pilots, the unit successfully executed back-to-back rescues in January, including a night hoist operation to save injured skiers at Stevens Pass, aided by an SOS alert from an Apple Watch. Deputy Tony Mullinax emphasizes the importance of carrying communication devices and essential survival items when heading outdoors, as rescue operations can take hours or days depending on circumstances. KING COUNTY, Wash. - At a moment's notice, the King County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit is ready to take off to save the lives of people stranded or in danger in the mountain regions of the area. With nearly 70-degree days in the forecast for this weekend, many will head out to the trails. If an emergency strikes, the King County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit is ready 24/7. "We as cops joke about, 'everyone loves a firefighter.' So, now we get to do some of the rescuing ourselves," said Deputy Tony Mullinax. Hundreds of feet over the mountains of Western Washington, Mullinax and the KCSO Air Support Unit locate and rescue people experiencing their worst day. "You could have someone bleeding to death. You could have someone experiencing symptoms of a heart attack where time matters," he said. The backstory In January, the air support unit stayed busy with multiple rescues. On January 19, a hiker fell on Guye Peak. Because of the remote location, KCSO's Guardian 2 helicopter took off. Three days later, on January 22, the air support unit got the call again. This time, several skiers were injured near Stevens Pass after falling about 1000 feet. "We accepted the mission and determined that the injuries and risk to the people involved was worth the risk to us to do a night hoist in the mountains," said Mullinax. Video of the rescues makes the work look easy, but that is far from the truth, Mullinax tells FOX 13 Seattle. "It's hard as the pilot, like, sitting there hovering in the dark next to a mountain for that long, while you're sending a guy up and down," he said. With two helicopters in the air (one to search and one to rescue), KCSO Air Support Unit pulled three hikers from Stevens Pass to safety during the mission. The air support unit was able to find the injured skiers thanks to an SOS alert from one of the victim's Apple Watch. "From the time we got the call until the time we were at Harborview, was a matter of hours, instead of a matter of, probably, days if we had to walk in and get them," said Mullinax. Right now, there are only four pilots in the air support unit, and the rescue helicopter the team uses is five decades old, Mullinax said. "The problem is that's a big ask. I mean, you're talking $15 to 20 million for a modern rescue-equipped helicopter and then all of the training that goes with learning to fly it." With calls constantly coming in throughout the entire year, the team is hopeful they'll be able to grow the unit in the future. Mullinax tells FOX 13 Seattle if you are planning on heading out, make sure to bring some sort of device that you can use to communicate if cell service is not available, like the Apple Watch that helped to save the skiers at Stevens Pass. He suggests bringing clothes for the weather, something you can use to make a fire, a device to signal for help like a whistle, mirror, or flair gun, something you can make shelter with, and plenty of water and food. "It may be a matter of hours, or it may be a matter of days until help can first of all find you, then rescue you," he said. If you're heading out hiking, experts suggest you always carry the "ten essentials." Navigation - maps or GPS Hydration Nutrition - carry at least one extra day's worth of food Rain Gear and Insulation - A way to start a fire -waterproof matches or a lighter First aid kit Tools - knives or a multi-tool Illumination - a light source and extra batteries Sun protection - sunglasses and sunscreen Shelter - tarp or space blanket The Source Information in this story comes from the King County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit. ICE arrests 37 people at Bellingham, WA roofing company 7 million pounds of WA food at risk as federal cuts loom 1 juvenile dead, 2 in critical condition in Skyway, WA New study reveals you need $169K to be financially happy in Seattle 12 WA residents made Forbes's list of 2025 billionaires Everything to know about the Washington State Spring Fair Seattle Restaurant Week 2025 by neighborhood To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Watch: Coast Guard battles perilous weather to rescue 2 hikers in dramatic California cliffside operation
SHELTER COVE, Calif. – A dramatic cliffside rescue unfolded on the rugged Lost Coast in Northern California as the U.S. Coast Guard saved two stranded hikers, one of whom had suffered serious injuries after a significant fall. The rescue mission was initiated on Saturday afternoon when the Coast Guard members in Humboldt Bay received a request for assistance from the Shelter Cove Fire Department and CAL FIRE. Initial reports indicated a hiker had fallen from a steep cliff, sustaining a dislocated shoulder, bleeding and other potentially serious injuries. When a Coast Guard helicopter crew reached the Big Flat area, they located both hikers clinging to the edge of the steep cliff. Watch: Apple Watch Sos Alert Leads Rescuers To Injured Skiers After 1,000-Foot Fall Down Washington Mountain "One hiker had fallen over 100 feet and was barely holding on with hiking poles 60 feet above another unstable cliff," U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay said in a release. "With no winds and limited power, the crew had to make quick decisions regarding fuel and patient delivery." To lighten the aircraft and gain the necessary power, the crew jettisoned fuel and formulated a plan for a complex 160-foot hoist. They eventually successfully extracted the injured and bleeding hiker from the dangerous cliffside. Download The Free Fox Weather App With the first patient safely aboard, it was decided to transport them to awaiting medical personnel at a nearby airport. The crew then returned to the cliff and successfully hoisted the second hiker, who was thankfully uninjured. "Both hoists required intense crew coordination due to the loose cliffside, dead trees and limited power. The Shelter Cove Fire Ocean Rescue team provided crucial decisions and communication to make the evolution successful," the Coast Guard said. Watch: First-person View Of Daring Helicopter Rescue Off Icy Mountain The rescue was further complicated by deteriorating weather moving in from the north and critically low fuel levels, leaving the crew with only 15 minutes of flight time. "Luckily, through training and prior coordination, the Sector Humboldt Bay Command Center was able to coordinate a Fuel Tender Truck from CAL FIRE Kneeland Helitack stationed at Fortuna Airfield," the Coast Guard said. With a full fuel load, the Coast Guard crew finally departed near nightfall, beginning their journey back to base. "In normal Humboldt fashion, the crew encountered low fog on their transit back home, recovering in low visibility and 200-foot clouds 5.5 hours after their 24-hour duty day ended," the Coast Guard said. The Shelter Cove Fire Department said the rescue required the coordinated efforts of six different agencies, "utilizing millions of dollars of specialized equipment and extensive training to ensure a safe and professional outcome. "Twenty dedicated rescuers, most of them volunteers, worked together with paid crews to execute this highly technical operation, demonstrating exceptional skill and teamwork," the fire department said. Hikers heading to the Lost Coast Trail are urged by firefighters to thoroughly research their route and stick to designated paths. Remember to pack extra food, water and emergency gear to prepare for potential article source: Watch: Coast Guard battles perilous weather to rescue 2 hikers in dramatic California cliffside operation
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Bushwalker's warning after freak accident left him 'unable to feel legs'
An experienced hiker is warning Aussies to take one key thing when venturing into the bush after a leisurely Sunday morning stroll ended with him submerged in water and unable to feel his legs, questioning whether he would be able to walk again. Robert Lang told Yahoo News he likes to escape the busyness of Sydney life by going for a walk near his North Shore home, often opting for the Lover's Jump trail walk in Turramurra. It's a pathway that snakes behind residential homes, and it's one he's taken many, many times before. However a weekly ritual turned to disaster after he strayed from the path recently. "I walk this trail every Sunday morning... there had been a lot of rain this day, and I could hear the rush of water below as I was walking above the creek... I sort of pushed through the bushes to see it, and as I was going down the slope, I guess because of the fresh rain, the ground gave way," he recalled. "I ended up sliding and rolling down the hill and fell into the creek fully submerged. My hip took most of the brunt, but I couldn't feel my legs." Panicked, the volunteer medic was able to pull himself out of the water with his arms and used his Apple watch to first notify his wife and then emergency services. Lang lay on the ground injured and alone for almost an hour as emergency services desperately tried to locate him. Despite his wife knowing the exact trail he always walks, and being a stone's throw away from houses, he was well hidden in the bush, and the location of his Apple watch was not being picked up. Out of pure luck, he wore his yellow waterproof jacket that day — and it was this that helped the rescue helicopter to finally locate him. "Then I could hear someone shouting, and so I shouted back. Within a minute or two suddenly someone was grabbing my hand and telling me that they had me and I was safe," Lang said. "It's indescribable to have someone say, 'Don't worry, I've got you'. Just the sheer humanity of it makes me choke up now." As rescuers began to pull him away from the rushing water, Lang regained faint sensation in his leg and was overcome with relief. Doctors later told him the impact of the fall likely caused shock to his nerve, causing it to go limp. Thankfully, he now has full function of his legs and has fully recovered. 😒 Camper calls for change to combat 'annoying' trend at national parks 🚮 25-year-old discovery in pristine Aussie national park sparks anger 🆘 The device that saved young fishermen drifting off Aussie coast Despite the bushwalk being somewhere Lang has visited countless times, he wishes he'd done a few things differently to increase his chances of being found quicker. "Think about how you're going to be located if there is an incident," he warned. "Take a personal locator beacon (PLB)... I would have taken one if I had one." He recommended staying on the trail, not going on a walk alone, letting somewhere know where you're going and wearing something bright. "Making sure you have a way to make yourself visible." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
